‘Cops bent rules to help Asaram’

Sep 01, 2013 |

Age Correspondent

mumbai

Former bureaucrat and advocate Abha Singh has written a letter to the Jodhpur police commissioner pointing out “six specific violations” in the investigation of the case against Asaram Bapu. The letter alleges that the said violations were committed with the intent to give time to Asaram so that he could manipulate or destroy evidence and influence witnesses.
“The police is a party in allowing Asaram make a mockery of the system. The police is purposely faltering and as a lawyer it is my duty to explain law to these public servants. They need to answer under whose pressure are they working,” Ms Singh told The Asian Age.
Citing the first violation in the course of investigations undertaken by the Jodhpur police, Ms Singh has alleged that the summons issued by the police is in violation of law as Asaram is above the age of 65 and cannot be issued summons. Besides, no summons can be issued to any person who stays beyond the jurisdiction of the local or neighbouring police station, she alleged.
Secondly, Asaram was treated as a witness at a time when he was an accused. There is no provision under the law to summon an accused and only a witness is issued summons, the letter states. This also gave time for the accused to evade arrest and the police did not even keep a watch over his movements, she states.
In cases of rape, the police raids various premises of the accused before the offences become public, she states that this is the third violation. It is seen that even though Asaram’s whereabouts are not known and it is clear that he is evading arrest, yet he has not been declared as a proclaimed offender, which is the fourth breach of law.
The letter states that no application was filed in the court to get an arrest warrant issued to an absconding accused. Lastly, despite the fact that more than ten days have lapsed, no step has been taken to seek the attachment of properties of Asaram.
“Public servants disobeying the law can be booked and punished under Section 217 of the IPC,” she added.

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